With city developing Ashton gate, the 22 people who put in the judicial review and delayed the process by at least 3 years have got their way. Whilst developing Ashton gate will still be a positive for the club, it will remove the possibility of any further expansions to the gate. I hope that Lansdown gets to build on the Ashton vale site after all the legal battles and Bristol gets a new arena and other amenities. On the plus side we should get our new (partially) stadium built before rovers which I have always thought necessary to reman as the number one club in Bristol. Hopefully the stadium will be a stable backdrop to build future success upon.
He did not mention AV but he has previously stated publicly that he would fight on until all hindrances to building on the site are removed. So redevelopment of AG could just be a stop gap measure until later!
A rather expensive stop gap though CA.......surely if SL and crew spend millions on the Gate, then that will spell the end of Ashton Vale? Unless it would become the home of Bristol RFC and only City play at AV?
What or how AV is developed will depend on the fortunes of BCFC over the coming years. Success will demand a larger stadium whereas continuing mediocrity will mean houses and industrial will be the order of the day.
Ashton Vale is dead. Spending that amount of money on a stadium upgrade means that, even in the next ten years, we will not be spending any money to move. It's a shame, because I'm thoroughly underwhelmed by the Ashton Gate renovation plans. It's a slap of paint on an aging stadium. It'll make the place nicer, but we'll still be behind where we want to be.
I oo thought the Ashton Gate development to be inferior to that of Ashton vale as the Ashton vale would provide the amenities and possibly an arena to the stadium.
I would very doubt any concert venue at AV especially if the village idiots get their UWE. It's a no brainer where music and other entertainment producers will want to hold it. The UWE will have excellent access via roads and rail with Abbeywood and Parkway within a mile radius. It would not surprise me one bit if this is not part of the agreement between UWE and Rovers that they can have rights to their teams activity but anything else falls under UWE umbrella.
Could have said the same about the choice between Filton and Lulsgate as Bristol's International Airport. The former ticked all the boxes but look where we are now!
There was never any intent to build a Arena at Ashton Vale. Mr Lansdown stated he would not fund one, but if anybody else just happened to have the eighty or ninety million to build one he would talk to them. Nobody had the money or showed any interest prior to the TVG application. Yes its a no brainer. Temple Meads 2017.
I am sure we would all of preferred a nice new stadium but from what I have seen and heared its a bit more than a lick of paint at AG. 2 new stands,and lets be honest the EE and the Williams are stuck in the 50's and realy look their age and are about 20 years late for an upgrade, a revamp of the Dolman,inside and out, and if I am correct,a bit of work done at the Ateyo? All this to incorporate the prawn sandwich brigades corporate boxes and the likes to increase revenue on match days plus function rooms/boardrooms ect for events on non match days. Plan B yes, but its all we got and I am sure in 5 years time we will be sat in our seats with a nice hot pie saying "wow this is soooo much better than the old AG...."
You keep writing this Red alert but its not true, Ashton Vale was very much considered for an Arena and the cost is or was no more to the council than it would be now.! it was dropped as an idea when SL had to split the land as a gesture of good will to get the stadium bid through.! (fat lot of good that did him.!) http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/bristol/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8809000/8809559.stm
It is true. There was no business plan to support it. It was flying pigs. The goodwill came from the Council they did help fund his bid, backed the WC bid with public money and used public money in legal challenges v Ashton residents and sold land without tender values to Mr Lansdown and his business associates. Steve Lansdown said the Council would have to fund the build themselves if they were interested, add private ownership of assets on the site, add it being outside of the City boundary and there is a minimal benefit v a public owned inner City site. The Council appear to have created a arrangement to fund a build at Temple Meads using public/private money, but ultimately it will be solely Council owned.
'There was never any intent to build a Arena at Ashton Vale" The link show there clearly was 'an intent' to build one! oh and its not outside the city boundary? and if the council had paid for it, it would have been solely council owned?
Nothing was signed, no architect appointed, no plans drawn up, nothing was costed, Steve Lansdown would not pay for it, the Council would not pay for it, no private investors, all there was was a vague possibilty of space on land owned by a private company - Ashton Vale project LLP [?]. The Council could have been paying rent for the land and assets such as car parks and other facilities. Green belt land is used to define the area outside of a Citys limits to stop the town or City encroaching into the Countryside?
With SL's billions, I'd happily write off the overwhelming investment he has put into the project, and build something that will diminish any value in the NIMBY brigades homes and give them some new neighbours, given they are such a wonderful tightly knit community. There is no way the government would let anyone stand in the way of the countries largest free gypsy camp. He is a generous man and could begin the ITAF charity. (Irish Travellers Accommodation Foundation) providing free land and basic upkeep to home a huge traveller settlement and community.
Why not get in touch with the French refuse company to construct an incineration plant on the grounds. It would remove the need for a local tip and remove half of Bristol's refuse. The down part ? It would take an average £15K off the price of houses within half a mile, and cover the nimbies in choking fumes.
Green belt land is used to define the area outside of a Citys limits to stop the town or City encroaching into the Countryside? Yes and old dumps can also be green belt but the angry interneteers don't want to know about that they still want to hump the bandwagon.
Depends which bandwagon your on.! I have seen maps clearly defining the city boundaries and Ashton Vale was within them. I cant be bothered to go find a map.!
